Standing around four kilometers to the southwest of downtown Hue, Thuy Bieu Ward combines two old villages, Nguyet Bieu and Luong Quan.

Hue peace

In fact, it is situated at one of the river’s most beautiful sections, with the Vong Canh Hill, a popular observation spot.

Opposite to the hill on the other bank is the Hon Chen Temple on Ngoc Tran Mountain with some 10 large and small religious structures; and Thien Mu, a 400-year-old pagoda situated on Ha Khe Hill. From Vong Canh, you can also see Truong Tien, the first-ever bridge to cross the river and built at the end of the 19th century.

Hue peace

However, the main draw of Thuy Bieu is perhaps its traditional timber houses, some of which are more than 100 years old.

Known as nha ruong, the house used to be common in Hue and many central provinces. It has lots of wooden beams and pillars carved with many details, including clouds and flowers.

Nha ruong in Hue has two layers of roof tiles, which helps people inside feel cool in the summer and warm in the winter. It is also said that steep slant of the roofs help the structures better withstand storms.

Hue peace

Despite the simple architecture, the feeling of stability and comfort is palpable as soon as one enters nha ruong.

Like many other areas in Hue, houses in Thuy Bieu are often accompanied by gardens in the front. Locals do not build barriers around their gardens, but lines of low trees as divisions.

A difference is that Thuy Bieu gardens have the remarkable presence of a local specialty: thanh traa kind of pomelo.

Thanh tra pomelos are not big and heavy like many other kinds of the citrus fruit, but it has a lightly sweet tone and its skin is easy to peel.

Even though it is harvested in the autumn, thanh tra gardens attract visitors throughout the year. In the spring, Thuy Bieu is fragrant and decorated with the white flowers of pomelos, while in the summer, it is colored green with young fruits waiting to ripen and be picked.